"GET OVER YOURSELF"

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

The last 48 hours have been a very difficult time, not just for me and the implications of the events that have transpired, but for the nation as a whole. In the last 48 hours there has been a lot of hate, from both sides. A lot of name calling, abandonment, and disregard for other peoples lives. I have admittedly said some things over the course of the last 48 hours that do the exact opposite of what I want to accomplish. My feelings and emotions still stand strong in what I believe in and that my message was to the point, but it could have been delivered better.

But there is something different this year. This election transcended politics. It has been about human rights. Basic rights that everyone should be able to take part in. Regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, geographical background. And trying to justify why you voted for Trump because some of what he was saying resonated with you, doesn’t mean you get to excuse the rest of his message and the implications that we stand to face with his presidency.

Not everyone will be happy every four years. That’s not how it works.But understanding that when you vote for a president, you vote for ALL of his agendas, not just the ones you choose to agree with. You get the whole package when you vote. This time it means that minorities are faced with an even more tumultuous and trying time, more so than any other presidency in modern history. We have certainly been on the bad end of a few policies here and there, but never this many and with such a broad scope.

It is easy for most people who voted for Trump to not care about the other policies he wants to enact and enforce. Privilege is a word that gets tossed around a lot these days, but it is one that is very accurate. Most of his supporters will never be faced with discrimination. Attempting to justify of your vote comes across as you willingly sacrificing your friends and family members basic human rights in favor of what you believe to be the greater good. This isn’t about being owed anything above and beyond what people so easily take for granted. It’s about getting the same rights that so many take for granted. You can’t say people aren’t owed anything when in the same breath you say you deserve your right to privacy, or fair trial, or right to bear arms. It’s the exact same thing, a right that you feel is basic, just like being treated equally is a basic right for us. We are all deserving of basic human rights.

I want the president to have a successful stay. One that shapes our country for the better. One that helps us all through a difficult international climate. He now represents us all. I will continually pray for him and his safety throughout his stay. I will pray that he does what is Godly and right. Though you have to understand my caution, given his history and platform he ran on. My weariness given his VP elect and his history of saying gays can be cured of the mental illness of homosexuality through conversion and shock therapy.

After all that, it is understandable that the most hurtful and demeaning thing that could possibly be said to any minority is to, “Get over yourself.” This dismisses everything that person is and wants to become and accomplish in their life. This says to them that you don’t care about what they may be feeling after the events of the last 48 hours and the implications it could mean for them. It is saying their fear is pointless.

The biggest thing it says to that person is that you do not empathize with their fear. You are telling them that they have no other choice but to be fearful and deal with whatever consequences they feel are coming their way. Whether your intention is to make them more fearful or not, that is exactly what you are doing. In this matter it comes across as you saying deal with the sexism, the racism, the bigotry, and deal with whatever our president elect does to you. Just like I have, your words need to be tailored to the audience and the current climate.

I am guilty of giving into to fear and anger in the last couple of days. I said some things that could 100% been said in a different way. I had very valid points to my statements, but the way I delivered them got lost in the accusatory tone I coupled with them. I posted the below picture on my personal facebook page, much to the dismay of many friends on both sides. I stand by my points, but also want you to know that I am sorry for the way I delivered them. I accused people of being bigots, racists, bigots and more. All because they voted for Trump.

People will need time to accept what has happened. People will need to be allowed to be fearful and dejected. It’s all part of processing anything in your life. It’s also natural to feel joy and celebration that someone you voted for has won the election. People need time to get through their high. All I ask is that you go forward with compassion, thought, and sincerity.

There is much more I would like to say, but I feel as if I keep going on, I will end up putting my foot in my mouth and drowning out my points. When all is said and done and we have all had time to process, I may add to this.

In closing I leave you with these words and one of my favorite Bible verses to get everyone through this period in our country’s history.

For those who voted for Trump, I encourage you to go forward and speak your points clearly but with thought to those who are on the other side of this. Although you may have voted for very specific reasons and causes, the current elects have other things in mind for their appointments that have other repercussions.

For those of you who are angry that Trump is president elect, I encourage you to speak your points clearly without violence and broad condemnation of the other side. Not everyone who voted for Trump is a hateful person or believes in his hateful rhetoric.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we’re all ok
And not to worry because worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I will not be made useless
I won’t be idled with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear